Washington churches help effort to save traditional marriage

By JOHN FORTMEYER
CNNW publisher
     VANCOUVER, Wash. — Churches throughout Clark County and the rest of the state are responding well to current efforts to give Washington voters a chance this fall to help preserve traditional marriage, according to a lead spokesman for the effort.
     Other churches that want to get involved have until June 7 to collect needed signatures to get Referendum 65 on the ballot.
    Gary Randall, well known throughout the Northwest as a pastor, broadcaster and businessman, is president of Faith & Freedom Network, one of the organizations spearheading the drive to secure a minimum of 112,440 valid voter signatures statewide by then.
    To ensure that the minimum of qualified signatures is reached, Randall said, perhaps 130,000 or more will be needed statewide. “We don’t have a specific goal, but the more the better in this case,” he said.
     Randall estimated about 1,000 churches across Washington are currently assisting in the drive.
    “People are motivated — they are really concerned around the state,” he said. “They are really resonating with our message. I will be very, very surprised if this initiative doesn’t make it to the ballot.”
     Referendum 65 gives the voters the opportunity to repeal ESHB 2661, a gay rights law passed in January by the Washington Legislature. According to Faith & Freedom Network and other evangelical and conservative groups, ESHB 2661 opens the door for the courts to impose homosexual marriage.
     The initiative campaign was bolstered by seven interdenominational prayer rallies held throughout the state by Faith & Freedom Network, which is based in Bothell, Wash., and Sound the Alarm, which is based in Edmonds, Wash.
     The rallies drew thousands statewide, including one held March 12 at Crossroads Community Church in Vancouver with about 1,200 in attendance, said Randall.
     Randall estimated that at the rallies alone a total of about 35,000 copies of the initiative petitions were handed out.
     Also motivating the effort is an anticipated Washington Supreme Court decision in Olympia overturning biblical marriage.
    “People are becoming part of our grassroots organization from all over the state,” Randall said.”We have volunteer representatives in a number of churches across Washington.”
     The initiative effort is opposed, according to the Associated Press, by a newly formed coalition that includes the liberal Washington Association of Churches, the Anti-Defamation League and several businesses. They are declaring that their efforts are not just Seattle-based, but throughout Washington.
     Randall noted that many evangelical groups and agencies that are part of another coalition called Positive Christian Agenda are working, along with Faith & Freedom Network and Sound the Alarm, to promote the initiative effort.
     Expecting to see Referendum 65 qualify for the fall ballot, Randall said the signature drive is simply the first step in a yearlong campaign to see the voters ultimately repeal ESHB 2661 He anticipates the campaign will be vigorous and attract much media attention.
     Randall said churches or organizations that are not yet involved in the initiative drive, but that would like to help meet the June 7 deadline, should contact him immediately by phone at 503-260-7342 or by e-mail at gary.randall@faithandfreedom.us.
     Signature forms also are available at www.faithandfreedom.us.